Reviews

Areas

Museums

As there are so many museums in London I have decided to devote a whole section to them. Unlike other cities, most museums in London are free. Museums of London tend to be VERY good full of a LOT of material and well-put-together exhibits:

British Museum ( Holburn), Tottenham Court Road or Russell Square - Perhaps a bit difficult to find, I would recommend a map or carefully watch for signs) - By far and away the best museum in London (never mind it being FREE) with it's recently re-opened reading room. See the original first editions of many famous works of literature, the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, the Elgin marbles (from the Parthenon in Greece), and MANY others. Take a tour, well worth it to get a general overview of the whole place. Free general admission.

Design Museum ( High Street Kensington or Holland Park) - A great new modern museum telling the story of the effect of design on modern culture. Sounds boring? It isn't. Very interesting, small museum with great free permanent and temporary exhibits as well as even better paid temporary exhibitions. Free general admission.

London Canal Museum ( Kings Cross) - A small museum detailing the history of canals throughout the UK with particular concentration on the many in London. Admission charge.

Handel & Hendrix in London ( Oxford Circus) - The attached flats in which Handel and Hendrix lived centuries apart from one another. Admission charge.

London Transport Museum ( Covent Garden) - A must for anyone with any interest in the tube or any other London transport. With lots of information of interest to anyone including lots of activities for children. Not huge but very good with an equally good shop full of neat gifts. Tip: Keep an eye out of the annual summer opening of the Acton Depot which is an amazing place with a lot of trains and buses to have a look at. This is always very popular. Admission charge.

Museum of London ( St. Paul's) - A great museum containing the history of the city subdivided into the various ages of the city (beginning with the prehistoric). Free general admission.

Natural History Museum ( South Kensington) - A massive, great classical museum. This tends to be very popular with families yet also contains many exhibits you can spend a great deal of time on. Try to also take a tour with the very knowledgeable guides. Admission to this museum also includes admission to the Science Museum (see below). The highlight has to be the rather tremendous dinosaur exhibit with overhead walkway. Free general admission.

Science Museum ( South Kensington) - A relatively new museum, many of the exhibits are hands on. Much smaller than the Natural History Museum (see above) the dynamics of the earth are explored in some detail. Free general admission.

Victoria and Albert Museum ( South Kensington) - Often overlooked, the V&A is a massive museum containing many artefacts from English history. Great new courtyard around back with a nice café. Free general admission.

Note: Indicates closest London Underground station, see Transport for London for further information.